Andrea Horwath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Her Worship
Andrea Horwath
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Horwath in 2022
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| 58th Mayor of Hamilton | |
| Assumed office November 15, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Fred Eisenberger |
| Leader of the Official Opposition | |
| In office June 29, 2018 – June 28, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Vic Fedeli |
| Succeeded by | Peter Tabuns |
| Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party | |
| In office March 7, 2009 – June 28, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Howard Hampton |
| Succeeded by | Peter Tabuns (interim) |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre (Hamilton East; 2004–2007) |
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| In office May 13, 2004 – August 15, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Dominic Agostino |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Jama |
| Hamilton City Councillor | |
| In office December 1, 1997 – June 16, 2004 Serving with Ron Corsini (1997–2000)
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| Preceded by | Vince Agro Bill McCulloch |
| Succeeded by | Bob Bratina |
| Constituency | Ward Two |
| Personal details | |
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Andrea Lynn Horwath
October 24, 1962 Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations |
Ontario New Democratic (until 2022) |
| Domestic partner | Ben Leonetti (c. 1985–2010) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | McMaster University (BA) |
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Andrea Horwath (born October 24, 1962) is a Canadian politician. She is currently the 58th Mayor of Hamilton, a role she started in 2022. Before becoming mayor, Horwath was the leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2009 to 2022. She also served as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario from 2018 to 2022.
Horwath first became involved in politics in 1997. She was elected to the Hamilton City Council. In 2004, she became a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre. She held this seat until 2022. Horwath was the first woman to lead the Ontario NDP. She is also the third woman to lead a major political party in Ontario.
In the 2018 provincial election, Horwath led the Ontario NDP to become the official opposition. This was a big achievement for the party. After the 2022 provincial election, she decided to step down as NDP leader. She then announced she would run for mayor of Hamilton. She won the election on October 24, 2022, and became mayor on November 15.
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Andrea Horwath's Early Life and Education
Andrea Lynn Horwath was born and grew up in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Her father, Andrew, was from Hungary and worked at the Ford Motor Company. Her mother, Diane, has French and Irish family roots.
Horwath studied at McMaster University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She started in human resources but became interested in labour studies. To pay for university, she worked part-time as a waitress. After graduating, she worked to help people with reading and writing. She also worked in legal support and community organizing.
Andrea Horwath's First Steps in Politics
In 1997, Andrea Horwath ran in the Canadian federal election. She was a candidate for the NDP in Hamilton West. Even though she didn't win, she did much better than previous NDP candidates. This helped her become more well-known in Hamilton.
Becoming a City Councillor
Later in 1997, Horwath was elected to the Hamilton City Council. She represented Ward Two. She won against two people who had been councillors for over 20 years. She became a strong voice for progressive ideas in the city. She was re-elected to council in 2000 and 2003. During her time as a city councillor, she led committees on waste management and housing.
Andrea Horwath in Provincial Politics
In 2004, Horwath was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. This happened in a special by-election for the Hamilton East area. She won with a large number of votes. Her victory helped the NDP gain more seats in the legislature. This also boosted support for the federal NDP in Hamilton.
In the 2007 election, Horwath ran in the new area of Hamilton Centre. This was because the election areas had been changed. She easily won against her opponent.
Leading the NDP in Ontario
On November 7, 2008, Horwath announced she would run to become the leader of the Ontario NDP. The leadership election happened in March 2009. Horwath won on the third round of voting. She defeated three other candidates to become the party leader.
The 2011 Provincial Election
In the 2011 provincial election, the NDP gained more support under Horwath's leadership. The party won over 20% of the votes. They also nearly doubled their number of seats in the legislature to 17. The election resulted in a minority government for the Liberal party. This meant the NDP had a lot of influence.
The 2014 Provincial Election
In May 2014, Horwath announced that the NDP would vote against the Liberal government's budget. This led to a new election on June 12, 2014. In the 2014 provincial election, the NDP kept its 21 seats. However, the Liberals won enough seats to form a majority government. This meant the NDP no longer held the balance of power.
The 2018 Provincial Election
Horwath led the NDP in her third election as party leader in 2018. She ran against the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties. Horwath made several promises during her campaign. She promised a universal dental plan and a prescription drug plan. She also proposed a child care plan where many parents would pay very little. Horwath also wanted to bring Hydro One back under public ownership.
The NDP's support grew in opinion polls during May 2018. This led to more attention from the media. Her party gained the status of official opposition. This meant they had the second-highest number of seats in the legislature. The NDP won almost all the seats in old Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara.
The 2022 Provincial Election
Horwath and the NDP released their platform in April 2022. Their campaign focused on more funding for social programs and government services. They planned to pay for this with higher taxes on businesses and high-income earners. The funding would go towards smaller class sizes and higher welfare payments. It would also help hire more healthcare and education staff. The NDP also proposed to expand COVID-19 vaccine rules. They wanted to change the voting system and close private long-term care homes.
Horwath was re-elected in Hamilton Centre. The NDP remained the official opposition, but they lost 9 seats. Horwath resigned as leader on election night. On August 15, 2022, she also resigned as the MPP for Hamilton Centre.
Andrea Horwath's Return to Municipal Politics
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After leaving provincial politics, Horwath ran for Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. She was elected mayor on October 24, 2022. Horwath is the first woman to be elected mayor in the city of Hamilton's history.
As Mayor of Hamilton
Horwath officially became mayor on November 15, 2022. She is the first woman to hold this position in Hamilton. In April 2023, the Hamilton city council declared a state of emergency. This was due to issues with opioids, homelessness, and mental health in the city.
Andrea Horwath's Personal Life
Andrea Horwath lives in Hamilton with her son, Julian, who was born in 1992. In 2011, she spoke about the end of her long-term relationship with Julian's father, Ben Leonetti. They had lived together for 25 years and separated in 2010.
Awards and Recognition
In March 2012, Horwath received the EVE award. This award is given by Equal Voice, an organization that supports women in politics. Many women from different levels of government have received this award.
Images for kids
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Andrea Horwath's signature
See also
In Spanish: Andrea Horwath para niños
